1 James Noack of The Woodlands, a Texas A&M University graduate, who has worked for over 15 years as a retirement specialist in the financial service industry. Noack has gained the support of Peggy Hausman, a member of The Woodlands Township Board.

1 Brian Dawson of The Woodlands is a graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University and has spent the last 10 years in the construction and engineering industries. Brian was chosen by the people of state Senate District 4 as their representative at the 2010 Republican Party State Convention. He was also elected President of the Young Republicans and appointed to the state's executive board.

1 Paul Cote of Spring is a firefighter with the Conroe Fire Department and a member of both the Houston and Texas Realtor associations. He has served as the director for the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District 89 and the local Emergency Services District 8 for eight years beginning in 1998.

1 The lone Democrat, Bryan Cambrice, will face the winners of the Republican election in November.

Cambrice has a MBA from Texas Southern University and is an educator with the Houston Independent School District. Cambrice also has experience training airport security for the city of Houston, selling insurance and building homes.

Walter Wilkerson, president of the Montgomery County Republican Party, said that Chance's early endorsement will not be the determining factor in how residents cast their votes. He said a front-runner has not emerged, but says he feels confident whoever wins the Republican primary will be the next commissioner.

"The commissioner should be someone with a background in business or finance because they must be able to understand the county's big budget," Wilkerson said. "More than anything, the candidates must understand the job will be won by the person who goes out and meets people face-to-face and talk to them about the issues they have. Chance was very good at that."

Wilkerson said he would advise the candidates to "knock on every door in the precinct."

The other highly contested race the residents of The Woodlands will be eyeing will be the person who will replace Precinct 3 Constable Tim Holifield.

Holifield, who has been constable for 16 years, also served as the head of the Montgomery County Animal Shelter. He announced he would not seek re-election to focus on a privatization contract that was awarded to a business he runs with his wife to oversee the county's animal shelter.

Both Wilkerson and Cadik said the population growth has brought more Democrats to Montgomery County. Cadik said she has seen an increased in the interest from transplant Democrats looking to volunteer, but the true test for the county's Democrats will be the upcoming election.

Early voting will begin May 14, said Montgomery County Elections Administrator Suzie Harvey.

With the challenge pushing the election to May 29, it will stretch election officials thin because there is already a city and school election scheduled for May 12.

"We would have the election on May 12, then two days later we would start early voting. We'd really be jammed up," Harvey said.